Elements of Art
The elements of art should be considered as the basic building blocks in a piece
of art. Line, texture, value, space, color, shape and form/volume are the seven
elements of design from which a piece of art is made.
Line
line: a path between two points that has width and length. Line can be
used to define shapes, imply emotions and indicate shading. Line may
be described in terms of its:
character (vibrant, dynamic, quiet),
direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal),
measure (length, width, long, short) and
type (straight, curved, angular, wavy)
outline: a line that surrounds and defines the edge of a shape; does not
apply line variation and shows little depth.
contour line: a line that defines the exterior and interior of a form ; has
line variation.
line variation: a line that changes from thick to thin; used to show depth,
create points of emphasis, and imply movement.
implied line: a line that is suggested, but not actually drawn.
expressive line: lines used to depict an emotion
descriptive line: lines used to define a form
symbol: a pictorial representation that stands for other concepts and
ideas.
Texture
texture: the way the surface of an object feels.
tactile texture: the actual feel of a surface.
visual (simulated) texture: the creation of the illusion of texture through
arrangements of line, value and color.
pattern: the repetition of elements, or combinations of elements, in a
recognizable organization.
Value
value scale: a diagram depicting a range of value from light to dark.
highlight: the area on an object where the light source is reflected.
light source: a source of light, man-made or natural, that places an object
in shadow.
cast shadow: the shadow that exists underneath an object.
hatching: a shading technique in which density of parallel lines is used to
create a range of value.
cross hatching: a shading technique in which density and overlapping
of crossing lines is used to create a range of value.
stippling: a shading technique in which density of small points or dots is
used to create a range of value.
Space
positive space: the enclosed areas or objects in an art work
negative space: the space not occupied by an object; the space
circulating around object
six ways of suggesting space:
- overlapping
- diminishing size
- parallel lines get closer together
- objects move up towards the horizon line
- strong color vs. vague color
- strong detail vs. vague detail
foreground: the area in a picture that appears closest to the viewer
middle ground: the area in a picture that appears in between the
foreground and background
background : the area in a picture that appears farthest away from the
viewer
atmospheric perspective: creating the illusion of depth of space by
fading colors and eliminating detail in objects that are further away.
linear perspective: creating the illusion of 3-dimensinal space on a 2dimensional surface.
horizon line: your eye level line; the place where land and sky appear to
meet.
vanishing point: a point on the horizon line toward which parallel lines
converge to create the illusion of 3-dimensional space.
worm’s eye: a view in perspective where the objects appear above the
horizon line. In this case the horizon line is usually low on the
page, and the viewer is usually low to the ground.
bird’s eye: a view in perspective where the objects appear below the
horizon line. In this case the horizon line is usually high on the
page, and the viewer is usually viewing the scene at a higher
vantage point.
eye level: a view in perspective where the objects appear to cut through
the horizon line. In this case the horizon line , and the viewer are usually
centered on the page.
Shape
shape: a 2-dimensional enclosed space
organic/biomorphic: shapes/forms that are curvilinear such as shapes/forms
found in nature
geometric: shapes/forms that are angular, such as man-made shapes/forms
abstract: shapes/forms that are based on reality, but whose size, shape,
location, color, etc. are distorted.
realistic: shapes/forms that are representational
nonobjective: shapes/forms that are invented from line, shape and color; they
are neither realistic, nor abstract
figurative: shapes/forms that are based on or inspired by, the human figure
Form/Volume
form: a 3-dimensional enclosed space/volume
mass: large areas of solid medium as opposed to the open spaces between or
around them.
volume: the amount of space occupied in 3-dimensions
additive: sculptural materials that enable the artist to add on more materials, i.e.
clay or papier mache
subtractive: sculptural materials that enable the artist to remove materials, i.e.
wood or stone carving and clay.
relief sculpture: a type of sculpture in which forms project from a background. It
is classified according to the degree in which it is raised from the surface: high
relief, bas relief
Clay terms:
glazes: a thin coating of minerals which is painted on clay to give the
surface a glass-like finish
wedging: the process of kneading clay to remove air bubbles
engobe: a mixture of slip and glaze that is used to decorate the surface of
clay objects
firing: the action of turning clay into a permanent material (ceramics)
kiln: a furnace for firing clay.
slip and score: the technique of attaching two pieces of clay together to
ensure a strong bond. The two surfaces to be attached are scored
(roughed up), slip (liquid clay) is applied, and then the two pieces are
pressed together
Miscellaneous words:
collage: a 2- dimensional composition made by gluing various materials
to a surface
composition: the act of arranging the elements of an art work into a
unified whole
criteria: the guidelines established for creating art projects
critique/crticism: discussion about the qualities of a creative work
crop: the cutting of an image to make the forms seem closer and largre
gesture drawing: a drawing or painting that gives a sense of motion/life
through the use of quick and sketchy lines
media: the materials used to create an art work
thumbnail sketch: a rough sketch created in preparation for a final work
of art
silhouette: a 2-dimensional representation of the outline of an object,
uniformly filled in black
still-life: artwork whose subject is inanimate objects
Color
Three properties of color
-hue: the name of the color
-value: the lightness or darkness of a color, achieved by adding white OR
black
Intensity/saturation: The brightness or dullness of a color, achieved by
adding the color’s compliment
Color Hues:
Primary: cyan, magenta, yellow; the three colors from which all others are
made
Secondary: orange, violet, green; the colors made by mixing two
primaries colors together
Tertiary: the six colors you get when you mix one primary color with one
secondary color
Color Value:
Achromatic: a range of value going from black to white (or reverse)
Monochromatic: a range of value for one color, going from light to dark
or reverse)
Tints: the light end of a monochromatic value scale; made with one hue
plus varying degrees of white
Shades: the dark end of a monochromatic value scal; made with one hue
plus varying degrees of black
Color Harmony:
Complimentary pairs: cyan/orange; yellow/violet; magenta/green
-colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel
-when mixed togeterh they make a neutral tone
-when juxtaposed, the “flicker”
Split Complimentary: A color scheme consisting of a color plus the two
colors on either side of it’s compliment; for example: magenta,
yellow-green, cyan-green
Analagous: colors that are next to each other on the color wheel; for
example: yellow, yellow-green, green
Warm Colors: Red, yellow and orange are examples of warm colors.
Warm colors appear to advance in space and have a general psychological
association with energy, passion and warmth.
Cool Colors: Blue, green and violet are examples of cool colors. Cool
colors appear to recede in space and have a general psychological association
with quiet, restful or detached.
Principles of Design
(The Principles of Design should be considered the way in which the elements of
art are used in a piece of art. Balance, emphasis, rhythm/movement, variety,
contrast, harmony/unity, pattern/repetition and proportion)
Proportion: the comparative relation between sizes of objects, parts of objects
and spaces between objects
Balance: the arrangement of elements to create a sense of visual stability in a
work of art
symmetrical- the organization of parts of a composition so that one side
mirrors, or duplicates the other
assymetrical- the organization of the parts of a composition so that one
side does not duplicate the other
radial- the organization of a composition in a circular design
Emphasis focal point; an area of a composition that attracts the viewer’s eye
first, either because of its size, location and/or color
Pattern/Repetition: the repetition of elements or combinations of elements in a
recognizable organization
Rhythm/Movement: organizing elements in a work of art to produce the
appearance of movement. This may be achieved through repetition
Contrast,Variety: incorporating differences in elements to enhance the interest
in a work of art
Harmony, Unity: a composition in which a sense of wholeness results from the
successful combination of all of the elements.